- Project
- Mid-Atlantic
- County
- Strategic Planning
Centre County, PA, home to Penn State University, is known for its natural beauty and devoted community members — both locally and among Penn State fans and alumni worldwide. Yet, in 2023, the county was at an economic development crossroads. Despite offering a high quality of life by most standards, it was equally evident that residents, businesses, and workers faced many of the same challenges affecting many other college towns and rural communities in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.
Although Penn State is renowned for significant research output as Pennsylvania’s land grant institution, State College and the surrounding region (which many people refer to as “Happy Valley”) have not experienced the levels of tech translation expected of a college town. Centre County residents and workers also felt that a tight and expensive housing market, reduced airport service, and other aging infrastructure constrained their community’s ability to prosper.
Furthermore, despite a well-educated population, Centre County struggles with income disparities and a limited labor force participation rate due to a transient student population. The county’s economic structure remains heavily reliant on education and healthcare, two sectors that do not guarantee long-term economic resilience.
Recognizing these issues, the Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County (CBICC) sought a roadmap that would strengthen the county’s economic foundation while promoting a future that competitively positioned the area for future growth. CBICC believed that addressing these issues required an action-oriented yet targeted plan that tapped into Centre County’s existing assets and strong relationships to overcome barriers to industry, workforce, housing, and infrastructure improvements.
The Opportunity
To tackle these challenges, CBICC enlisted Camoin Associates to develop Centre County’s first countywide economic strategy in over two decades.
The strategic planning process sought to capture what made Centre County unique and align with broader priorities articulated through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s PA Gets It Done effort.
Specifically, this included calling out opportunities in key industries across the Commonwealth:
- Agriculture
- Energy
- Life sciences
- Manufacturing
- Technology
CBICC also recognized that its recently formed Economic Development Council — composed of over 50 individuals from various sectors — could play a pivotal role in the strategic planning process and, ultimately, oversee the plan’s implementation. By bringing together experts and leaders across disciplines, the council could provide a wide yet nuanced perspective on the county’s economic needs and opportunities.
Strategic Planning Approach
The strategic planning process included several phases, each building on core values, data findings, and stakeholder input.
Vision and Guiding Principles
In November 2023, CBICC and Camoin Associates launched the planning process with an in-person kickoff meeting. During this session, CBICC’s Economic Development Council established core values to guide the strategy:
- Collaboration
- Sustainability
- Open-mindedness
- Accountability
- Imagination
The Council selected these values to underscore the goals of economic resilience, sustainable growth, technological advancement, and entrepreneurship.
Data Collection and Analysis
To develop a more objective understanding of Centre County’s landscape, Camoin Associates produced a comprehensive analysis of the area’s demographic, economic, and occupational trends, comparing them with state and national benchmarks.
The final data product, a Summary of Economic Conditions, highlighted the county’s key challenges and identified areas of opportunity, such as untapped potential in emerging sectors and the need for workforce development to support growth.
Stakeholder Engagement
Camoin Associates worked closely with CBICC to run an extensive engagement process that included over 100 stakeholders, ranging from small business owners to municipal representatives.
The process also engaged experts from critical fields such as healthcare, tourism, infrastructure, and academia, providing a holistic view of Centre County’s economy and fostering a shared commitment to the strategic plan’s success.
Strategy Development and Iteration
In May 2024, Camoin Associates presented a Situational Assessment to the Economic Development Council, outlining the following key priorities:
- Business retention and expansion
- Targeted and emerging industries
- Workforce and education
- Built and natural environment
Council members provided feedback on potential implementation approaches, which helped Camoin Associates hone bold and achievable strategies for the county.
In September 2024, CBICC convened another Economic Development Council meeting to recap the strategic planning process, invite Camoin Associates to report on the final strategies and discuss the next steps to advance strategy implementation with Council members.
Outcome and Impact
CBICC officially launched Centre County’s Economic Development Strategy in October 2024 at the Voice of Business Luncheon, which attracted over 300 attendees from throughout Pennsylvania.
Event speakers featured several influential leaders, including Dr. Neeli Bendapudi, President of Penn State University; Commissioner Mark Higgins, Centre County Government; Ben Kirshner, Chief Transformation and Opportunity Officer for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and Luke Bernstein, President and CEO of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business & Industry.
